William Clark bought Paducah for $5.00

Seems there was an Indian Chief living on the banks of the Ohio River in what is now Paducah, Kentucky. The old chief and his family had been there for generations. One day a white guy shows up with a deed and says "hit the road Chief, I just bought the whole damned place." However, he was an equal opportunity evictor, he also threw out the few white families living there.  The Chief was a member of the Chickasaw tribe, he was called Chief Paduke.  The deed was issued by nothing less than the United States Supreme Court and cost William Clark, leader of the historic Lewis & Clark Expedition, the princely sum of five dollars.  After running everybody off, Clark laid out the grid for the city and named it Paducah in honor of the old chief.Not wanting their to be any ill feelings, (say what?) he sent his boat to bring the old chief back to see what he had built. Unfortunately the chief died on the trip upriver. You now know everything I know about the founding of this fair city. Seven hundred and eleven miles the first day, Gainesville to Paducah. The weather was great and even the traffic around Atlanta was favorable. I have been in the room for three hours and it feels like I am still moving. Long drives are getting tougher on this old man. The river walk here is well done. There is a mural depicting the founding on the City, numerous benches along the river where you can sit and watch the river roll by. There was a stern wheeler tied up that is a combination casino and hotel. Unlike most gambling boats, this one steams up and down the river. The Ohio and Tennessee River join here, rolling south to blend with the mighty Mississippi. Tomorrow, it is another 700 mile plus trek to Kearney, Nebraska. Cross the River at St. Louis, then on to Kansas City and a little BBQ, then on to Nebraska. More from the Cornhusker state tomorrow.